Just Another American Francophile

Culture

French Word of the Day: l’homosexualité (lome-oh sex-ewe-al-it-eh)- homosexuality

I had never been to a Gay Pride Parade, and I figured it was about time after 25 years. If you don’t love color, you should probably skip this post. My friends and I each took a different color of the rainbow:

Rocio took this picture, but she was a lovely shade of pink. (Clothing-wise, not skin-wise.)

The Pride Parade is easily one of the happiest parades I’ve ever been to. Everyone was laughing, dancing and screaming- it was like Disney World with less expensive merchandise.

I’ve never seen so many things handed out in a single parade. By the end, we had no less than 25 of each object: temporary tattoos, bracelets, flyers, pins, frisbees, flags… Whoever has to clean up the streets is having fun right now.

I took quite a few pictures. Unfortunately, I’m short, so half the pictures are full of the hands, arms and heads of everyone in front of me. Okay, now full speedo ahead!

As an expert procrastinator, I love to look at motivational quotes. These quotes never motivate me, but I feel like finding them is me being extremely productive. Oprah has kindly dedicated her entire website to “You can do it!” articles.

I recently found one with happiness quotes, and was all for it until I saw this:

Because I’ve been to France, everyone emails me anytime anything even remotely related to France, the French, or French words appears in the news or their lives. Someone going to France? Email Meghan! A French phrase just appeared in your book? Email Meghan! The French did something to another country? Email Meghan! Want to decorate your kitchen in the French style? Obviously, Meghan studied decorating in France; email her!

(Anyone who asks me any decorating questions will be directed to Google or HGTV.)

Don’t get me wrong- I love France. I love hearing about it, and will discuss it for hours at end if given the opportunity. By all means, continue to send me things and ask questions.

However, I have no children and no intention to have any soon, but I’ve been repeatedly sent an article entitled “Why French Parents Are Superior.” Save holding up a sign that says, “Yeah, I’ve seen it. Thanks.” I think posting a link to it on the blog is the only way to stop people from emailing/ texting/ telling me all about it.

I don’t normally get political on this blog, but this event came just in time for the start of Black History Month in the States.

French Elle has published a controversial article about how black women are now becoming more “chic” because they’ve embraced the style of the “white-geoisie” (not my term).

The article appears to rely generally on thug stereotypes. A better explanation can be found here.

Although Elle has taken it down, I found it here. (Or part of it, at least.)

An open letter was sent to Le Monde entitled “When Will a Black Woman Appear on the Cover of Elle?” and can be found here in its original French.

Americans largely get labelled as racists, so I always find it interesting when things like this come from other countries. One thing the open letter criticizes is how the article focuses on the black women in America, completely ignoring the black population of France.

Elle has since posted this debate with two women who are part of a site called Afrosomething. Basically, they rip Elle a new one for being racist.

Some points from their talk:

Not all of the women listed in the article as black are even black

Styles being touted as black, such as those worn by Nicki Minaj, are worn by others (such as the Japanese)

to say “the black community” is incorrect because there are so many different black communities

to say “black-geoisie” instead of simply “bourgeoisie” makes them a completely different group, separating them

They point out that while the article tried to start out as showing how blacks had gained more of an equal ground, it fell into clichés that made it completely racist and shocking for 2012.

I’ve always found this tension an interesting part of modern French culture. I think a lot of times it gets ignored, but it’s always right there.